16 February 2023 06:27 pm Views - 1109
Around 35 MPs who have formed the 'Nidahas Janatha Sandhanaya' (Freedom People's Alliance) in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardene has informed him to make arrangements to convene Parliament immediately in order to discuss the crisis pertaining to local government elections.
The MPs have requested the Prime Minister to convene the House using powers vested to him under standing order 26.
"The decision to postpone postal votes has become a threat for democracy. Refusal by the Treasury to allocate funds for ballot papers and the refusal by the government printers to print them have been cited as reasons for the postponement. We are sure that you are aware of the consequence Sri Lanka would suffer if the election is postponed. Therefore we urge you to convene Parliament immediately so that legislators could exercise their duty of resolving this crisis," the MPs said in their letter.
MP Dallas Alahaperuma when contacted by Daily Mirror said they want the House convened before February 21. (Yohan Perera)